Cigarette case



April 19, 1949. G. H. ALLEN 2,467,923

CIGARETTE cAsEs Filed Aug. 25, 1947 IMU - ylllllllll/l Patented Apr. 19,1949 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE CIGARETTE casa Gifford H. Anon,Hotohkiss, colo. Applioation August 25, 1947, serial No. 770,482

(o1. zoe-41) 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a pocket cigarettel case, more particularly ofthe type designed to hold an entire cigarette package. The principalobject of the invention is to provide a case of this character with adouble-acting lid which can be opened completely for the reception orremovalfof the entire cigarette package, and which will open onlypartially to allow access to the individual cigarettes thus facilitatingthe insertion of full packages and the removal of empty packages yetprotecting the cigarettes during use of the case.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lid for cigarette caseswhich will allow the corner of the contained package to be readily tornfrom place to allow access to the cigarettes without it being necessaryto open the entire package.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of theinvention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efficiency.These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is hadto the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numeralsrefer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout thedescription.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the improved cigarette case in the closedposition;

Fig. 2 is a vertical end view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a side view illustrating the lid partially opened;

Fig. 4 is a similar view open;

Fig. 5 is a top view position of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 6-6 Fig. 2; and

Fig. 7 is a similar sectional view taken on the line I--1 Fig. 2.

In the drawing, a conventional cigarette package is indicated at I0 withthe cigarettes therein at Il.

The improved case comprises a substantially rectangular container I2 ofa size to conveniently receive a conventional package of cigarettes. Thecontainer I2 is provided with two relatively high side portions I3 andwith a relatively low forward lip portion I4. The end of the containeropposite the lip portion I4 is provided with a hinge pin I5. A

The container is closed by means of two lids, a first lid I6 and asecond lid I'I. The two lids are hinged together upon a hinge pin I8 andthe lid illustrating the lid fully of the case in the open 24 will lieacross the slots 23 I6 hingedly mounted on the hinge pin I5. The lid I6adjacent the hinge pin I8 is provided with two flat surf-aces a. frontilat surface I9 and a top dat surface :20. The lid I1 is pr-ovided witha plunger 2 I, which is constantly urged against the surfaces I9 and 20by means of a compression spring 22.

This construction causes the lid I'I to be held in alignment with thelid I6 by the co-action of the plunger 2| against the flat surface I9.When the lid I1 is swung to the open position of Fig. 3 the plungertravels around the joining ridge between the surfaces I9 and 20compressing the spring 22 and rests on the top flat surface 20 toresiliently hold the lid I'I vertical as in Fig. 3 Therefore, if the lidII is raised slightly it will snap to the open position of Fig. 3 and ifit is pushed down slightly it will snap to the position of Fig. 1 underthe action of the spring 22.

The side portions I3 are provided with keyhole shaped slots 23. Each ofthese slots is shaped with an enlarged lower portion from which a narrowpassageway leads on an incline to the upper edge of the side portion I3,as shown in Figs, 4 and 7. The slots are positioned to receive flattenedlugs 24 formed on the lid II about the hinge pin I8. When the lid I'I isclosed the lugs to prevent the lid I'I from being opened, as shown inFig. 7. When the lid I1 is opened, to the position of Fig. 3, the lugs24 will assume a vertical position in the slots, as indicated by thevertical center line A in Fig. 7, where they will still hold the lid I6closed. If the lid I'I is forced backwardly, against the action of thespring 22, as shown in broken line in Fig. 3, the lugs 24 will be turnedto align with the center line B in Fig. 7, which aligns them with thekeyhole slots 23 so that the lid I6 may be swung open as shown in Fig.4.

Therefore, it will be seen, that the lid I6 is normally locked closedand does not open with the lid I1 unless the latter is forced to thebroken line position of Fig. 3. The two lids are only opened together,as shown in Fig. 4, for the insertion or removal ofthe package I0. Foraccess to the cigarettes II it is only necessary to open the lid I 1.

A mirror 25 is inserted in the inside of the lid I1 so that it will beexposed when the latter is opened for vanity purposes.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described andillustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may bevaried, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

A Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desiredsecured by Letters Patent is:

1. A cigarette case comprising: a container of a size to receive aconventional package of cigarettes and having an open top; a rst lidhinged at one end of said open top to close substantially one half ofsaid open top; a second lid hinged to the free extremity of the iirstlid to close the remainder of the open top; a spring actuatedl plungeron one lid; a cam on the other lid, said cam having two substantiallynat faces contacted, by said plunger so that when the two lids areclosed the cam will engage one at face and when the second lid is openthe cam will engage the other flat face; a key hole like slot opening tothe upper edge of each side of said open top in align-f ment with thehinge axis between the two lids,

said slots having an enlarged portion from which a narrow passagewayleads to the open edge of said container; and lugs on said second lidpositioned to rest in said slots when said first lid is, closed, saidlugs being attened so as to pass through said narrow passageway when thesecond lid is swung to a predetermined position.

2. A cigarette case comprising: a container of a size to receive a,conventional package of cigarettes and having an open, top;` a first,lid hinged at one end of said open top to` close substantially 4 onehalf of said open top; a second lid hinged to the free extremity of therst lid to close the remainder of the open top; means for normallypreventing the first lid from opening with the second lid; a key holelike slot opening to the upper edge of each side of said open top inalignment with the hinge axis between the two lids, s aid,s1.0ts having,an enlarged portion from which a narrow passageway leads to the openedge of said container; and lugs on said second lid positioned to restin said slots when said rst lid is closed, said lugs being flattened soas to pass through said narrow passageway when the second lid is swung,to a predetermined position.

GIFFORD H. ALLEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le. ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES' PA'IENTSV Number Name Date 399,714 Wesselmann Mar. 19,1889 1,440,215v Evalenko Dec. 26, 1922 1,481,510 I -Iostettler Jan. 22,1924 1,830,583 Ritz; Woller Nov, 3, 1931

